Goalscorer Alexis Saelemaekers and AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli pay tribute to defender Simon Kjaer, who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury
AC Milan moved top of Serie A by beating Salernitana - and paid tribute to injured defender Simon Kjaer, who is not expected to play again this season.
Franck Kessie put Milan ahead after five minutes with a low shot after a fine run from Rafael Leao, before Alexis Saelemaekers curled in a second.
After Saelemaekers' goal, he ran to the bench and held up Kjaer's shirt.
Kjaer, who helped save Denmark team-mate Christian Eriksen's life in the summer, has suffered a knee injury.
He was injured after four minutes of Milan's 3-0 win over Genoa on Wednesday and is expected to be out for at least six months.
A statement from Milan on Friday said: "Simon Kjaer underwent arthroscopic surgery today to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament and reinsert the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
"The operation, which was carried out at the Casa di Cura La Madonnina clinic, was a perfect success."
On Monday, Kjaer, 32, attended the Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he was named the 18th best player of 2021 and received a round of applause and praise from host Didier Drogba.
During Denmark's match against Finland in the summer's Euro 2020, Eriksen, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch with Kjaer starting the CPR process that helped save his team-mate's life.
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Milan's win takes them above Napoli, who will return to the top if they beat Atalanta at home in the evening game (19:45 GMT).
Milan have been Italian champions 18 times but not since 2010-11 and this victory means they have won 12 of 16 league games this season.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsAC Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
16Maignan25Florenzi23Tomori13Romagnoli19Hernández41Bakayoko79Kessié56Saelemaekers10DÃaz17da Conceição Leão64Pellegri
- 16Maignan25Florenzi23Tomori13Romagnoli19HernándezSubstituted forBallo-Touréat 62'minutes41BakayokoBooked at 24minsSubstituted forBennacerat 45'minutes79KessiéSubstituted forTonaliat 79'minutes56Saelemaekers10DÃaz17da Conceição LeãoSubstituted forMessiasat 45'minutes64PellegriSubstituted forKrunicat 15'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Tatarusanu4Bennacer5Ballo-Touré8Tonali11Ibrahimovic14Conti20Kalulu27Maldini30Messias33Krunic46Gabbia83Mirante
Salernitana
Formation 4-4-1-1
72Belec5Veseli23Gyömbér26Bogdan19Ranieri21Zortea8Schiavone14Di Tacchio18Coulibaly7Ribéry25Simy
- 72Belec5Veseli23Gyömbér26Bogdan19RanieriSubstituted forJaroszynskiat 79'minutes21ZorteaSubstituted forKechridaat 61'minutes8Schiavone14Di TacchioBooked at 30minsSubstituted forKastanosat 45'minutes18Coulibaly7RibérySubstituted forDjuricat 62'minutesBooked at 86mins25SimySubstituted forBonazzoliat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fiorillo4Jaroszynski9Bonazzoli11Djuric20Kastanos22Obi24Kechrida28Capezzi33Delli Carri63Vergani96Guerrieri
Referee:Antonio GiuaMatch StatsHome TeamAC MilanAway TeamSalernitanaPossessionHome70%Away30%ShotsHome22Away7Shots on TargetHome8Away2CornersHome9Away5FoulsHome11Away9Live TextPost update
Match ends, AC Milan 2, Salernitana 0.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, AC Milan 2, Salernitana 0.
90'+4'Post update
Mike Maignan (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Frederic Veseli (Salernitana).
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Salernitana. Conceded by Mike Maignan.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. Pawel Jaroszynski (Salernitana) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
90'Post update
Brahim DÃaz (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Andrea Schiavone (Salernitana).
89'Post update
Foul by Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan).
89'Post update
Grigoris Kastanos (Salernitana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Federico Bonazzoli (Salernitana) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Grigoris Kastanos.
86'Booking
Milan Djuric (Salernitana) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86'Post update
Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by Milan Djuric (Salernitana).
86'Post update
Foul by Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan).
86'Post update
Federico Bonazzoli (Salernitana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Ismaël Bennacer (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84'Post update
Foul by Andrea Schiavone (Salernitana).
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Sandro Tonali (AC Milan) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Alexis Saelemaekers.
80'Post update
Attempt missed. Brahim DÃaz (AC Milan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alexis Saelemaekers.
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Source: bbc.com